An emotional Mark Cavendish left it for others to say whether Peter Sagan deserved to be eliminated from the 2017 Tour de France after the horror crash that may have ended both riders tours for very different reasons.

The Slovakian, considered a nailed-on favourite for the sprinters' green jersey, was kicked out of the race after an elbow knocked Cavendish off his bike as they approached the finish.

Cavendish was shunted into the barriers by Sagan about 100m from the finish and came down heavily during a bunch sprint in Vittel.

The Manx missile was able to get back on his bike to finish the fourth stage holding the handlebars with only his left hand and was in a sling when he addressed media later.

When asked about Sagan's elimination, he was diplomatic and said he appreciated his rival coming to check on him personally after the race.

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

Click to playTap to play

The video will start in 8Cancel

Play now

Cavendish's injuries are visible through his ripped jersey (Image: TIMES NEWSPAPERS LIMITED)

"I was massively grateful that Peter came to me directly after the finish to see if I was OK.

"I have a good relationship with Peter. With the movement to the right, I wouldn't be happy.

"But that's racing. I was a little bit confused by the elbow in a way.

"That's something I'd like to speak to him about.

Mark Cavendish is knocked off his bike (Image: itvcycling/Twitter)

Sagan push Cavendish into the barriers (Image: itvcycling/Twitter)

Sagan is the reigning TDF champion and considered one of the sport's true greats (Image: Rex Features)

"In terms of the disqualification. I'd like to speak to Peter personally but I'm happy he came and spoke to me after the finish."

Directly after the race, Cavendish said he was still unsure whether his injury would end his tour.

"Injury-wise I'm going to go and get it checked out. I definitely need stitches in this finger, it's bleeding a lot," he said.

"And the shoulder, there's something to do with that previous shoulder that I did in Harrogate - it's just sat backwards. I don't know if I've snapped the fake ligament or what - I'm going to go and get it looked at.

"I'm not a doctor, I don't know what, but I'm not optimistic anyway."

Mark Cavendish nurses back to the finish line (Image: REUTERS/Benoit Tessier)

The race jury president Philippe Marien announced the disqualification by saying: "We have decided to disqualify Peter Sagan from Tour de France 2017 as he endangered some of his colleagues seriously in the final metres of the sprint which happened in Vittel."

The initial stage results posted on the Tour's website showed Sagan had been docked 30 seconds and 80 points but Dimension Data contested that decision, with sports director Roger Hammond calling for Sagan to be sent home.

"My heart has gone to my feet," Hammond said. "These riders are like my children. That guy has worked so hard to be here."